Valve lifter



July 9, 1 957 I wlNNER 2,798,285

VALVE LIFTER Filed Sept. 3, 1954 cz W-n 5 1/ HT I g Ar V v INVENTOR 427-410? a: wllwvse BY 77zswwazqpmm 4mm ATTORNEYJ United States Patent VALVE LIFTER Arthur J. WinnenBarstow, Calif. Application September 3, 1954, Serial No. 454,073

2 Claims. (Cl. 29-220) The present invention relates generally to automobile tools and specifically to a valve lifting tool for use on valve spring assemblies having split valve keepers and valve keeper retaining cups.

In engines of the V-type, very little space is available in which to work upon the valve spring assemblies. For this and other reasons, and particularly in the Ford engines, the whole valve guide assembly is removable from the engine block. The present invention provides a simple tool by means of which the valve spring assembly can be disassembled within the engine block without removal of the valve stem guide from the block.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a tool to raise the valve spring and the valve keeper retaining cup in a valve spring assembly within the block of an engine having a V-formation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve lifting tool which will raise the valve spring and the valve keeper retaining cup simultaneously, and one which will upon pivotal movement of the tool with respect to the spring, free the spring from the cup.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tool of simple construction and one easily manufactured, as well as one finding a ready market in the automotive industry.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a valve lifting tool for use on V-formation engines, and one which Will lift the valve keeper retaining cup as Well as the spring in order that the valve keeper be removed and the valve stem freed from the valve spring assembly without disassembly of the valve stem guide from the engine block.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the appended drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side View of a portion of an engine block showing the valve spring assembly in place therein and showing the tool of the present invention as about to be used on the valve spring assembly;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a detailed view in cross section on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end view in cross section on line 4-4 Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the end of the tool showing how it engages with the valve spring and valve keeper retaining cup on a valve stem in a valve spring assembly.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the invention is seen to consist of an elongated handle bar having a handle 11 at one end and a pair of spaced prongs 12 at the other end.

Each of the prongs 12 is cut away inwardly from the free end to a point adjacent the handle bar attached end to form a shelf 13 arranged in opposed relation with the shelf 13 on the other prong. The prongs 12 are 2 each also cut away inwardly from the free end above and spaced from the cut forming the shelves 13 to form a second shelf 14 also arranged in opposed relation to the shelf 14 on the other prong. The shelves 13 extend inwardly a greater distance than the shelves 14.

In Figure 1 is shown the engine block 15 in which the valve 16 is positioned and held by means of the valve stem guide 17. The spring 18 has one end bearing against the guide 17 and the other end carried by the washer 1'9, seen most clearly in Figure 5. The valve stem 21 is normally retained in the spring assembly by the valve keeper 22 which is split as seen in Figure 5. The valve keeper retainer cup 23 fits over the valve keeper and is formed with a conical inner face 24 which coincides with the outer face of the valve keeper 22.

A portion of each of the shelves 13 and 14 adjacent the free end of the adjacent prong slopes upwardly as indicated by the reference numerals 25 and 26, respectively, and an upstanding flange 27 rises from the outer side edge of each of the prongs 12. The handle 11 is made cylindrical to receive the tubular extension 28.

In operation, the tool is employed by inserting in the engine block and fulcrurned on a portion 29 of the engine block as seen in Figure 1 to lift the spring 18 and the retainer cup 23 on the valve stem 21 so that the split keeper 22 may be removed from the valve stem, thereby freeing the valve from the engine block 15.

The shelves 13 and 14 are spaced apart with respect to the distance between the washer 19 and the cup 23 so that when they are inserted on the bottom side of the cup and on the bottom side of the washer and the bar is fulcrumed on the block, the washer 19 and the cup are separated from each other. It has been found that frequently the retainer cup and the washer bind together and the present invention provides a means of separating and supporting them while the valve stem is being removed from the block. The sloping portion of each of the shelves forms a guide means for the ready insertion of the prongs beneath the spring cup washer and the valve keeper retaining cup for simultaneously raising and supporting the washer and cup with the bar fulcrumed upon an adjacent portion of the block.

While a single embodiment of the present invention has been here illustrated and described, it is believed that other embodiments may be made and practiced within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve lifting tool for use with a valve assembly and an engine block including a valve spring, a spring cup washer and a valve keeper retaining cup, said tool comprising a handle bar having a handle at one end, a

pair of spaced prongs projecting from the other end of said bar, an upstanding flange rising from the outer side edge of each of said prongs, each of said prongs being cut away inwardly from the free end to a point adjacent the handle bar attached end to form a shelf, said shelves being in opposed relation and being adapted to engage and support the bottom surface of said valve keeper retaining cup with the handle bar fulcrumed on a projecting portion of said engine block, each of said prongs being also out away inwardly from the free end above and spaced from the first-named out along the adjacent flange to form a second shelf, said second shelves beingin 0pposed relation and together being adapted to engage and support the bottom surface of said spring cup washer with the handle bar so fulcrumed.

2. A valve lifting tool for use with a valve assembly and an engine block including a valve spring, a spring cup washer and a valve keeper retaining cup, said tool comprising -a handle bar having a handle at one end, a pair of spaced prongs projecting from the other end of said bar, an upstanding flange rising from the outer side edge of each of said prongs, each of said prongs being cut away inwardly from the free end to a point adjacent the handle bar attached end to form a shelf, the portion of each shelf adjacent the free end of the adjacent prongs sloping upwardly, said shelves being in opposed relation and being adapted to guidingly engage and support the bottom surface of said valve keeper retaining cup with the handle bar fulcrumed on the projecting portion of said engine block, each of said prongs being also cut away inwardly from thefree end above and spaced from the first-name cut along the adjacent flange to form a, second shelf, a portion of each of said second shelves adjacent the free end of the adjacent prongs sloping upwardly, said second shelves being in opposed relation and being adapted to guidingly engage and support said spring cup washer in spaced relation with respect to said valve keeper retaining cup when said bar is so fulcrumed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

